downunder

Trust me Robb, to qualify my statement, the slagging was very loud and more along the lines of "dis coaster iz s***". Moving along, how does it work when a coaster needs major corrective re-profiling after it's installed in terms of liability? I imagine it's a case by case basis, but I am curious about who is liable in these sorts of circumstances (or do they negotiate to split costs). Maverick, I'd expect it would have been Intamin, but what about i305 - I don't see experienced coaster engineers getting it wrong with estimating g-forces or anticipating wheel wear and tear but maybe they did.

I didn't even know that Orient Express was operating (not that I've been paying attention). I hope it's down for maintenance when ACE are there. If it isn't,someone should bring a closed sign.

Well I can say my low expectations would not not be exceeded if they did that again, that's like Jurassic POORk.

That really sucks, I thought it was really ordinary for one person to be slagging off a coaster (admittedly a crap coaster) within earshot of management at an ERT session on an earlier trip, let alone that. I do feel for you Robb because I really feel like that undermines the work you do with the parks, no butt kissing, that really pisses me off.

I'd love to see them make it up the hill to Tatsu or Ninja or Superman in their mobility scooters (the I'm too fat to be bothered walking scooters). Those scooter motors won't be rumbling for long.

There is an old Australian film called "The Cars That Ate Paris", I see a sequel - "The ACErs That Ate Santa Clarita". With the extra demand, gravy prices are going to go through the roof in the Valencia area this weekend. I reckon you should have a rumble with the ACErs in the parking lot.

^Aren't ACErs coming the same weekend as WCB, maybe they are strengthening the X2 structures in anticipation of the extra weight? I'd love some ERT on X2, lucky WCB people.

If it's happening in 2011, I can't imagine it being anything too special - except in the imagination of the PR department. Guess what, we're re-opening SOB and running it backwards, oh joy. Following on from this announcement, bondage group, American Pain Enthusiasts announce their annual Picnic Day will be held at KI this year.

I'm shattered it has OTSRs, I'm going to fly over for CH opening day just to refuse to ride it, and how the hell can you hunt Cheetahs with OTSRs restricting your movement - very disappointing... On a serious note, the more I see of this, the better it looks. I wonder if Euroburg will equal or better this wonderful Intamin creation with their 2012 coaster, positively salivating at the prospect.

That sounds quite logical, if memory serves me right, KI doesn't have a full-circuit invert (not counting suspended), not even a crummy SLC. Given the lead time for Texas Giant's rehab and that the winter in Ohio would probably slow down work compared to the climate in Dallas, I doubt SOB could be Rocky Mountained by Season 2012. I'll happily implement the next best option for SOB personally: KI just need to give me petrol, a match, and indemnity from prosecution and civil liability.

^It shouldn't be that big a deal. I get into DFW 1.50pm Sat 23rd, so I'll probably have from about 4.00pm at the park which I'll use to get my season pass processed, get orientated, and maybe score a few credits - I'll probably go the Rangers game that night. Sunday and Monday I have full days, though I'll duck out maybe Sunday to do the Texas Stadium tour and check out Arlington, I also want to do the SCAD tower. And Tuesday, I'll probably have a couple hours at the park before I have to head to DFW. I'm thinking Monday will be the best day to have an open to close day at the park, and I'll probably get a q-bot that day.

^While I can easily afford it, I'm a bit leery about VIP tours. It s***s me up the wall while a tour guide just ambles along and puts you on everything once. I just want to ride the good stuff as many times as possible, I wish they had a VIP option that didn't involve a tour guide, and was basically an all day exit pass. I did VIP tours at HHN and HOS in Florida, and they sucked, I did more in an hour after opening at HHN than the VIP tour did in 6 hours on a similarly busy night (I went two nights). Not sure if the regular park VIP tours are the same or if you tell them what you want to do and walk straight on. Rant over, I think it's been said before, but maybe Mitch could include NTG on the steel poll given the poll is a little later this year.

I have to come a long way (12,000 miles) and I have a limited window, plus I may never get back to SFOT, Lo-Q helps maximise the limited time I have at the park, so it's preferable if they had it for NTG, but not the end of the world. I'll still get a q-bot and get all the rides on it out of the way and hit NTG early and late perhaps (I'll keep an eye on TR's for the best strategy there). Now let's see what projects will spring up for RM now that I think it's confirmed that the re-profile on TG was a success.

Flying Turns at Euclid Beach in Cleveland - I like my coasters to be near-death experiences. The original Big Dipper at Luna Park Sydney, I was so young when I rode it, I can barely remember it. Batman side of Chiller, it was closed every time I went to GADV while it was still standing, Robin was great but I would have loved to fly through that reverse top-hat. Eagle's Fortress - this was a downright tragedy, understandable that it was tearing itself to pieces and the park needed to do something about that, but sad all the same.

^I think the GP (which really is us too, but we know more about coasters) don't know Anton Schwarzkopf (or at least his coasters) like we do.

Expedition GeForce, T-Express, Phoenix, X2, Nemesis - I didn't pick my top five but went for a bit of variety from my top ten. I'd call it either "Mitch Hawker Land" (put your poll in before you leave the park), "Heaven", or "Coastergasm".

The Beast, August 2007, mid-morning ride back row - the section after the second lift-hill heading to the shed. It was so rough I thought my insides were going to burst. I can cop a rough coaster, but I really thought I was going to be injured on that particular ride. Dishonourable mentions: Ghostrider also gave me some please make it stop rides in 2007 and 2009. Hurler at Carowinds in 2009 and Wildcat at Compounce in 2008 also gave me soul crushing, death-rides. Similiar experience to the i305 guy; Millennium Force in torrential rain in 2005 (before they started shutting almost every ride in the rain), ouch, I became pinhead from Hellrasier and my spray jacket was covered in little bugs after 12 laps (why 12 laps? there was no line).

That's a bummer NTG isn't a Flash Pass ride, I may have some lining up to do when I'm there this summer. I was also dismayed to also see that Shockwave isn't a Flash Pass coaster, which is another major attraction of SFOT for me, but maybe it doesn't get lines - I hope. I took a bit of a chance stopping over in Arlington on the way to the east coast, not knowing whether NTG would be great or not. Now I'm very much looking forward to touching down at DFW in July, after being on the longest non-stop route I'm told: Sydney to Dallas, hope the plane has enough gas.

Nice, the Casa Bonita episode is one of my fave South Park's along with Mr Hanky, Cartman buys an amusement and the first Timmy episode. I was amazed when someone told me the place is real. I'd love to go there.

^Bas, the only flaw in your hypothesis is that ACErs wouldn't fit on El Toro - the tum-tum wouldn't let the lapbar go down far enough. Other people's opinion's don't really affect my enjoyment of a coaster - not like I'm going to rate Voyage higher because the Children of the Corn like voyage fanboys wank about the coaster. Though respected opinions may highlight coasters I haven't ridden that may be worth checking out. Looking forward to the steel poll, I've got plenty of food for thought including several additions to my steel top ten.

I think rehab will do as much for this coaster as it does for Charlie Sheen. I'd love to see the original first drop restored without the titanium shattering roughness. Hoping Texas Giant part 2 is a success, and encourages further projects.

^Now us foreigners really know what you Americans mean when you talk about March Madness, and to think I thought it was about basketball. Now you need to be careful not to commit personal fouls, or jamming it in, or worst of all - rejection, blocked shot. Double and triple teams may or may not be appreciated. And this gives a whole new meaning to the term swing man....

^My comment was very much tongue in cheek, in case that was totally obvious. I found the story unusual and amusing, no big deal to me. Maybe he got the idea from Monty Python's The Meaning of Life.

What next, is the Prof. going to be asking for a volunteer from the class to demonstrate a threesome.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/entertainment/weird/northwestern-university-defends-live-sex-show-in-class/story-e6frep26-1226015463584